History of Josephine Lunn Birt

This history is written by Great Grandma Birt herself. I have only seen pictures of her, but remember staring at one in particular of she and Great Grandpa Birt on a couch, and thinking what a nice woman she looked to be. I am so glad she wrote this. It was very neat for me to read and imagine her life in her own words. She speaks tenderly of her biological mother and father who's home she left at the age of 10, to live with her Aunt and Uncle, since her mother had died. Again, what hard working ancestors I have.

Josephine Lunn, born 1 April 1896, Salt Lake City Utah. I was the sixth child of our family of nine children, five brothers and four sisters. Father moved on a ranch in North Jordan Utah. We enjoyed a free life with lots of animal on our home; cows, horses, chickens, rabbits, dogs, cats, and pigs. Our brothers and father played accordion, banjoes, mandolins, and guitars. We were taught to sing merry songs with Mother and Father teaching. We could ice skate for miles around our home in winter. We used to skate 3 miles to school and sleigh ride after school on ice. Father hauled all our drinking water 4 miles in large wooden barrels, after some time he drove a artesian well. We raised a large vegetable garden and mushrooms patch. Father and brothers rented a farm from Mrs. Augusta Reed on the bank of Jordan River. We moved in part of her house.

Mother died Aug 20, 1906. Our family was scattered far apart. I was sent to South Weber to live with my Aunt Josephine Bright, mother’s sister. I was named after her. One year later my 4 year old brother, Charles Cook Lunn, was sent there to live also. We were taught to do many things on the farm and to be honest and clean. We attended school in a small frame school house. Eight grades in one room. A large stove in the center. We enjoyed a free life there at Uncle Ben Bright’s. We worked real hard, but was fed real well and clothes also. We grew up with many friends and good neighbors. We played games of all kinds in the evenings. I was baptized 9 July 1919, in the Weber River by cousin, Clarence Earl.

I later taught Sunday school but always went to Sunday school before that. Uncle bought me a real good organ I learned to play it by ear and could play anytime I heard. I only reached the middle of the 8th grade in school when aunt took very sick with heart trouble. After her death, August 31, 1920, I kept house for Uncle and his cousin until my marriage to Joseph A. Birt on November 22, 1921.

We bought a farm in South Weber on half with Clarence Birt. We lived there five years, Verla and Arthur were born there. We rented a farm at Roy and really worked hard. But was very pleased with our money in the fall as that was the first money we had to pay our debts. LaVern was born that fall, Nov. 15, 1927. We put our earnings in to buying a farm 10 acres in Clinton ward. Our debt was heavy buying our place so we rented ground. Many times we loaded our little children into a wagon and took lunch to the other farms. Many times after dark we would get back home then the cows had to be milked, which was my job, we had as many as five then. Later, Ileen was born. I took her in a box on the wagon while I helped Joe and the children how or water crops.

Six years later, Sheldon was born and all the children were very glad of a little red head for a brother. Later, after he was 4 or 5, I worked a 2 year turn at Ogden Arsenal. Arthur was called into arm services and I spent many worried days until his return. Verla was married just before he left. Then shortly after he returned, he married, and LaVern shortly after that. So, I lost 3 children in a short time. Then, Ileen went to work and it really left our home loansome. All are married and children of their own. Joe and I are just a pair of grandparents that are very proud of each and wish we could help them more.